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Ukraine crisis: Crimea holds secession referendum | Ukraine crisis: Crimea holds secession referendum |
(35 minutes later) | |
Crimea is voting on whether to rejoin Russia or stay with Ukraine but with more autonomy. | Crimea is voting on whether to rejoin Russia or stay with Ukraine but with more autonomy. |
The referendum has been condemned as "illegal" by Kiev and the West but is backed by Moscow. | The referendum has been condemned as "illegal" by Kiev and the West but is backed by Moscow. |
Since the fall of Ukraine's pro-Moscow President Viktor Yanukovych, Russian troops have in effect taken control of the majority ethnic-Russian region. | Since the fall of Ukraine's pro-Moscow President Viktor Yanukovych, Russian troops have in effect taken control of the majority ethnic-Russian region. |
Voters are expected to support leaving Ukraine, but Crimean Tatars are boycotting the poll. | Voters are expected to support leaving Ukraine, but Crimean Tatars are boycotting the poll. |
The BBC's Ben Brown at a polling station in the Crimean capital, Simferopol, reported a strong turnout - with 100 people arriving in the first 10 minutes after polls opened. | |
Russia earlier vetoed a draft UN resolution criticising the vote - the only Security Council member to do so. | Russia earlier vetoed a draft UN resolution criticising the vote - the only Security Council member to do so. |
The US-drafted document was supported by 13 Council members. China, regarded as a Russian ally on many issues, abstained from the poll. | The US-drafted document was supported by 13 Council members. China, regarded as a Russian ally on many issues, abstained from the poll. |
Beijing has said it supports Ukraine's territorial integrity. | Beijing has said it supports Ukraine's territorial integrity. |
The US and EU had warned they would impose further tough sanctions on Russian officials if the referendum went ahead. | The US and EU had warned they would impose further tough sanctions on Russian officials if the referendum went ahead. |
Russia intervened in the Crimean peninsula by seizing control of government buildings and blocking Ukraine's troops at their bases after the fall of President Yanukovych on 22 February. | Russia intervened in the Crimean peninsula by seizing control of government buildings and blocking Ukraine's troops at their bases after the fall of President Yanukovych on 22 February. |
However, the Kremlin officially denies deploying extra troops there, describing them as Crimea's "self-defence forces". | However, the Kremlin officially denies deploying extra troops there, describing them as Crimea's "self-defence forces". |
In other developments: | In other developments: |
'No common vision' | 'No common vision' |
Polling stations across Crimea opened at 08:00 local time (06:00 GMT) and will close 12 hours later. | Polling stations across Crimea opened at 08:00 local time (06:00 GMT) and will close 12 hours later. |
On the ballot paper, voters are being asked whether they would like Crimea to rejoin Russia. | On the ballot paper, voters are being asked whether they would like Crimea to rejoin Russia. |
A second question asks whether Ukraine should return to its status under the 1992 constitution, which would give the region much greater autonomy. | A second question asks whether Ukraine should return to its status under the 1992 constitution, which would give the region much greater autonomy. |
Some 1.5m voters are eligible to cast their ballots, and the first results are expected to be released shortly after the referendum. | Some 1.5m voters are eligible to cast their ballots, and the first results are expected to be released shortly after the referendum. |
Ethnic Russians form a clear majority in the region (58.5%), and many of them are expected to vote for joining Russia. | Ethnic Russians form a clear majority in the region (58.5%), and many of them are expected to vote for joining Russia. |
Ahead of the vote, one woman - who was speaking on condition of anonymity - told the BBC: "We love (Russian President Vladimir) Putin and are for Russia. | Ahead of the vote, one woman - who was speaking on condition of anonymity - told the BBC: "We love (Russian President Vladimir) Putin and are for Russia. |
"We are only for Russia. Why? Because we don't want fascists here," she added. | "We are only for Russia. Why? Because we don't want fascists here," she added. |
The woman was referring to the warnings by Mr Putin that "fascists" and "far-right radicals" took over in Kiev after months of protests against Mr Yanukovych. Ukraine denies the allegation as "blatant lies". | The woman was referring to the warnings by Mr Putin that "fascists" and "far-right radicals" took over in Kiev after months of protests against Mr Yanukovych. Ukraine denies the allegation as "blatant lies". |
But there are also those who would like Crimea to stay part of Ukraine but with more local powers. | But there are also those who would like Crimea to stay part of Ukraine but with more local powers. |
"In my opinion, Ukraine should have full autonomy so it can look after its own finances. There should be no pressure from the government. I favour independence," Serhiy Resehtnyk told the BBC. | "In my opinion, Ukraine should have full autonomy so it can look after its own finances. There should be no pressure from the government. I favour independence," Serhiy Resehtnyk told the BBC. |
The authorities in Kiev - backed by the EU and US - have condemned the vote as "illegitimate". They say a free vote is impossible under a "barrel of the gun". | The authorities in Kiev - backed by the EU and US - have condemned the vote as "illegitimate". They say a free vote is impossible under a "barrel of the gun". |
The Ukrainian parliament has also voted to disband Crimea's regional assembly. | The Ukrainian parliament has also voted to disband Crimea's regional assembly. |
But Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday that Moscow would "respect the will of the people of Crimea". | But Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday that Moscow would "respect the will of the people of Crimea". |
Speaking after marathon talks in London with US Secretary of State John Kerry, Mr Lavrov admitted that both sides had "no common vision" on how to solve the crisis. | Speaking after marathon talks in London with US Secretary of State John Kerry, Mr Lavrov admitted that both sides had "no common vision" on how to solve the crisis. |
Mr Lavrov said that Russia had no plans to invade south-eastern Ukraine, despite a massive military build-up on the border with its neighbour. | Mr Lavrov said that Russia had no plans to invade south-eastern Ukraine, despite a massive military build-up on the border with its neighbour. |
The US and the EU have warned that the Crimean vote violates international law and the Ukrainian constitution. | The US and the EU have warned that the Crimean vote violates international law and the Ukrainian constitution. |
The Crimean region was part of Russia until 1954. | The Crimean region was part of Russia until 1954. |
Russia's Black Sea fleet is also still housed in Crimea. But Moscow has signed agreements promising to uphold Ukraine's territorial integrity. | Russia's Black Sea fleet is also still housed in Crimea. But Moscow has signed agreements promising to uphold Ukraine's territorial integrity. |
Are you in Crimea? Are you planning to vote in the referendum? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with the subject heading 'Crimea vote'. | Are you in Crimea? Are you planning to vote in the referendum? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with the subject heading 'Crimea vote'. |